It never ceases to amaze me the quantity of absolutely amazing, different quilts that can be made. The choices alone for one quilt can be mind boggling, so it’s crazy to know that there are dozens of variations on almost every idea possible that all can make wonderful quilts. Add in fabric choices and finishing designs and options and it’s crazy! Wonderful, but crazy!

But, here are 5 more quilts that I am drawn to (lately) that I NEED to make…one of these days.

6. Scrappy Bear Paw in Red and White. This particular one is pictured in a discussion about quilting patterns at the Statler Stitcher blog. The original post can be found here. There is something that really draws me to two color quilts. I love the reds and white, indigo blues and white, and black and white versions. You can vary up the fabrics to get your variety and textures while still having a controlled color way and a stunning quilt.

7. Lone Star. Yes, please. From my early quilting days of looking (and drooling) over books and patterns and fabrics for inspiration, this always seemed to be the ultimate star pattern, one that was WAY beyond my beginner skills. It doesn’t look quite as hard now, but it’s still one to be dreamed of. I adore the Amish black and brights in this one, but I find it lovely in many other color ways, also. Choices, choices. The original post is here. Scroll down until it jumps off the page at you.

8. Mariner’s Compass. I am truly not even worthy of consideration in the skill set that it would take to create a masterpiece such as the one featured in this blog post. The Compass itself is the center portion with the additional work to showcase it. Stunning. Simply STUNNING. This definitely would require hand piecing to achieve this level of perfection.

9. Apple Cores. This is always a great choice for a scrappy quilt. There is something endearing about the gentle curves. It looks like so much more than simple straight piecing, but is, I am told, still a beginner friendly project. I think I would like to do a hand pieced (maybe even English Paper Pieced version of it in riotous, mismatched fabrics). It might be a good project to carry along on a trip.

10. Storm at Sea. This is another one of those classics that is better off with simple, slow, hand piecing. This example is classic. The colors of the sea in a quilt with definite movement. This pattern is one that can look totally different by changing up the color placement in the blocks. It’s amazing how different they can look.

It’s been a busy week with a bit of success in the dresden plate department. I was able to use some of the (much needed and appreciated) advice that readers graciously left me in the comments last week to find a way to correct my problem with the blocks.

I used a circle of Wonder Under fusible interfacing to affix the blocks to the background fabric. This left the points at the end of each blade free for hand applique, while eliminating the shifting problem. It worked beautifully and I had four completed in the time it took to watch a Netflix movie.

Dresden Plate Quilt Block ready to be hand appliqued.

Limited progress on the ornaments, though. It’s harder to stitch them (without actually catching the back layer with the needle) than I thought, so I may have to rethink what I am doing with them. But, they will get finished, one way or another.

I did a tiny bit of hand sewing with friends while working on some other Christmas gifts, but nothing that I can really share right now.

Okay, I am not a die hard Black Friday shopper. I cower at home and do my sales shopping online, except for my local quilt stores. Usually, at least one of them will have an amazing sale that I can take advantage of in person. These are good, local-ish, small businesses that I love to support. They also are small enough that even with a crowd, that probably means only 10 or so shoppers at one time, so it’s not quite as overwhelming as in those big stores where clerks get trampled and folks fight to the death over a flat screen t.v.

Call me crazy (many do), but violence is not part of how I envision the whole Christmas Season starting off. My hat’s off to those of you who can brave the crowds and find the great deals! I’ll be home shopping on my computer in my jammies, thank you very much.

But, at my Black Friday quilt store foray, I found an entire store at 50% off! Woo Hoo! It’s a Winter Wonderland for me. It was my first Black Friday at this quilt store, but it certainly won’t be my last!

So, I will show off my finds. I got these lovely one yard cuts of fabric and now must find the perfect pattern for them. Fun stuff! I also got a couple of yards of interfacing, but that’s not the stuff of good photos, so I didn’t take one.

I am forever finding quilts that I absolutely love, but many of those, I know that I will never get around to making. They might be way above my skill level, not go well with my home, or are just too frivolous to actually use. But, there are also many which I am dying to get made…sooner or later.

These are some recent favorites in no particular order. I am deliberately limiting this post to 5 entries, lest I lose readers. For my quilting friends, more will follow soon. To my other readers, I will get back to other writings soon.

Right now, I find myself really enamored with 5 Yard Quilts, which are quilts that are largely built around 5 one yard cuts of coordinating fabrics, usually without a definite background, but sometimes they add a 6th fabric, a neutral, to make the others stand out. As one of my LQS’s had a 50% off sale for Black Friday, one yard cuts became a very do-able and affordable idea.

1. Sawtooth Blades. Available here. Scroll down to find it. You may find several other options you like on this site also. Wouldn’t this be absolutely darling in 30s reproduction fabrics?

2. Scrap Jar Stars. Free pattern and tutorial available here. Any number of colorways or totally scrappy could work here.

3. Okie Star. Available from Amazon, here. Great use for fabrics combinations with strong contrast.

4. Mod Medallions. Available through Etsy, here. Love the curved machine applique. Reminds me of Cathedral Windows with extra curves. Could totally work with 5 fabrics plus a neutral.

5. If red, white, and blue is your passion, this is a great Patriotic Star Quilt. Pattern available here. I am sure this would look great in many different colorways or even scrappy with controlled contrast, but I have a thing for the traditional rwb combination. It always look fresh to me.

Do you have a quilt that you are itching to make next? Share it in the comments, below.

I love making Christmas ornaments. It’s fun to put crafty stuff together and they make great gifts, too! Here are 5 more lovely diy ornament ideas that I want to try (one of these years)!

6. I love these folded fabric ornaments to the left. Aren’t they cute? Find the complete instructions, here.

7. I have seen these folded fabric round ornaments before and wondered how they were created. They are a no sew project that look far more intricate than they really are. Love that! Check them out here.

8. Check out these cute little Christmas trees made from fragrant cinnamon sticks! It’s a simple project and a great use of those little scraps and strings left over from sewing and quilting projects during the year. It really is the little things sometimes. Check them out here.

9. If fabric Christmas trees are your thing, then check out this sewn version using a fabric circle. Careful folding takes the fabric from a circle to a gorgeous tree! Tutorial is here.

10. Personally, I can follow written instructions okay, but it is extra easy when you have a quality video tutorial to guide you through. And, I love the vintage sewing machine this fella uses in the video. It makes me want to get my old treadle up and running. Watch that video on YouTube here.

There is something festive and fun about making things around Christmas. It doesn’t have to be elaborate crafts or expensive projects, but even a little something for the Christmas tree will be appreciated and remembered year after year.